EP0608865A2 - An electrical terminal with means to avoid locking lance damage and entanglement - Google Patents
An electrical terminal with means to avoid locking lance damage and entanglement Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0608865A2 EP0608865A2 EP94101136A EP94101136A EP0608865A2 EP 0608865 A2 EP0608865 A2 EP 0608865A2 EP 94101136 A EP94101136 A EP 94101136A EP 94101136 A EP94101136 A EP 94101136A EP 0608865 A2 EP0608865 A2 EP 0608865A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- terminal
- sleeve
- locking
- housing
- flange
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 claims 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 abstract description 7
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 abstract description 7
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009413 insulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010008 shearing Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/40—Securing contact members in or to a base or case; Insulating of contact members
- H01R13/42—Securing in a demountable manner
- H01R13/428—Securing in a demountable manner by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members
- H01R13/432—Securing in a demountable manner by resilient locking means on the contact members; by locking means on resilient contact members by stamped-out resilient tongue snapping behind shoulder in base or case
Definitions
- the invention relates to an electrical terminal with means to protect the locking lances from damage and entanglement during handling and transport.
- the locking section usually of larger periphery than the contact section, has locking lances stamped out of the base of the locking section and extending obliquely outwards with respect to the longitudinal axis of the terminal.
- the locking lances are biased resiliently towards the base of the locking section as they pass under a shoulder in the housing cavity, the locking lances springing outwardly once past the shoulder hence abutting against the shoulder and preventing a rearward extraction of the terminal from the housing.
- the forward retention means usually consisting of a protrusion attached to and extending from the base of the rear end of the locking section outwards, the front face of the protrusion abutting against the rear face of the housing cavity shoulder.
- An electrical connector housing usually has a plurality of terminal receiving cavities into which the terminals are inserted. Prior to insertion each one of the terminals is crimped to a conducting cable and the terminals corresponding to one connector housing are then harnessed together.
- One of the problems associated to the present terminals is that, prior to insertion in the connector housing, the exposed locking lances and electric cables may get entangled, which may result in damageably bending the lances or cutting of the electric cables due to the locking lances sharp edges emanating from their manufacturing process which involves shearing them out of thin sheet metal. Damage of the locking lances may prevent their insertion into the cavities or impair their retention qualities and damage to the electrical cable or its insulation may impair the correct electrical functioning of the electrical connector.
- Another problem rising from the barbed aspect of the locking lance prior to insertion in the electrical connector housing is that they get caught with other locking lances, terminals or cables, this being time consuming, difficult and therefore costly to disentangle.
- an electrical terminal that comprises a sleeve slidable over the base of the locking section of the terminal, the slidable sleeve resiliently biasing the locking lances inwardly towards the base of the locking section and therefore retracting the lances to a position where they cannot get caught with other objects, the sleeve slidable off the locking lances during insertion of the terminal into the terminal receiving cavity of the associated housing so as to allow the locking lances to spring outwardly and lock the terminal in the housing.
- an electrical terminal 2 is generally shown extending along a longitudinal axis 3, comprising a contacting section 4, a locking section 6, a retaining section 8, a wire connecting section 9,(only partially shown), and a slidable sleeve 10.
- locking lances 12 attached to a base 14 of the locking section 6 are shown in their free standing position whereby the locking lances 12 depart from attached ends 16 obliquely outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis 3 towards free rear ends 18.
- the locking lances 12 are formed in such a manner that when resiliently biased towards the base 14 until they lie fully within a cavity area 20 out of which they have been stamped thereby lying flush to the base 14 of the locking section 6, there is no plastic deformation. In other words, once released the locking lances will spring outwardly to their original free standing position.
- the cross-sectional shape of a base 22 of the contacting section 4 of an electrical terminal 2 with respect to the longitudinal axis 3, may be of a cylindrical or polygonal shape although a cylindrical shape has been chosen to illustrate the pin terminals of Figures 1,2,3,5 and 6.
- the cross-sectional shape of the base 14 with respect to the longitudinal axis 3 may also be of a cylindrical or polygonal shape.
- the base 14 of the locking section 6 is at a greater distance from the longitudinal axis 3 than the base 22 of the contacting section 4 as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 5.
- a ring shaped sleeve 10 having an inner surface 24 is fed over the contacting section 4 as shown in Figure 1 and then slid over the locking section 6 to a position encompassing the locking lances as illustrated in Figure 2.
- a dimple 19 formed out of the locking lance prevents the sleeve 10 from falling off the terminal 2.
- Figures 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of the invention corresponding to Figures 2 and 3 respectively whereby the flange 28' extends from the rear end of the sleeve 29' in an oblique manner, the rear face 36' of the shoulder 38' having likewise an oblique face to mate with the front face 34' of the flange 28' as illustrated by Figure 6.
- Figure 4 illustrates a low cost method for producing the sleeve 10 by forming and stamping them out of a strip of sheet metal.
- This invention is also applicable to female terminals and separate sleeves comprising the locking lances which are attached to terminals, examples of which are given in patent DE 36 29 740 A1.
Landscapes
- Connector Housings Or Holding Contact Members (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The invention relates to an electrical terminal with means to protect the locking lances from damage and entanglement during handling and transport.
- Among the common types of electrical terminals are those stamped and formed from sheet metal, comprising a contact section, a locking section and a conductor attachment section. The locking section, usually of larger periphery than the contact section, has locking lances stamped out of the base of the locking section and extending obliquely outwards with respect to the longitudinal axis of the terminal. As the terminals are pushed into cavities in an associated housing the locking lances are biased resiliently towards the base of the locking section as they pass under a shoulder in the housing cavity, the locking lances springing outwardly once past the shoulder hence abutting against the shoulder and preventing a rearward extraction of the terminal from the housing. The forward retention means usually consisting of a protrusion attached to and extending from the base of the rear end of the locking section outwards, the front face of the protrusion abutting against the rear face of the housing cavity shoulder. An electrical connector housing usually has a plurality of terminal receiving cavities into which the terminals are inserted. Prior to insertion each one of the terminals is crimped to a conducting cable and the terminals corresponding to one connector housing are then harnessed together.
- One of the problems associated to the present terminals is that, prior to insertion in the connector housing, the exposed locking lances and electric cables may get entangled, which may result in damageably bending the lances or cutting of the electric cables due to the locking lances sharp edges emanating from their manufacturing process which involves shearing them out of thin sheet metal. Damage of the locking lances may prevent their insertion into the cavities or impair their retention qualities and damage to the electrical cable or its insulation may impair the correct electrical functioning of the electrical connector. Another problem rising from the barbed aspect of the locking lance prior to insertion in the electrical connector housing is that they get caught with other locking lances, terminals or cables, this being time consuming, difficult and therefore costly to disentangle.
- With respect to the above mentioned problems, the object of this invention is therefore to provide a means by which the locking lances cannot get caught with other objects, especially referring to other terminals and harnesses.
- The above mentioned object is achieved by providing an electrical terminal that comprises a sleeve slidable over the base of the locking section of the terminal, the slidable sleeve resiliently biasing the locking lances inwardly towards the base of the locking section and therefore retracting the lances to a position where they cannot get caught with other objects, the sleeve slidable off the locking lances during insertion of the terminal into the terminal receiving cavity of the associated housing so as to allow the locking lances to spring outwardly and lock the terminal in the housing.
- The preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of reference to the drawing figures, where;
- Figure 1 is a side view of the electrical terminal in accordance with the invention, whereby the slidable sleeve is about to be engaged over the locking section;
- Figure 2 is a side view of the preferred embodiment whereby the slidable sleeve is engaged over the locking lances, defining the state of the terminal prior to full insertion into the terminal receiving cavity of the housing;
- Figure 3 is a side view of the preferred embodiment showing the terminal in its fully inserted and locked position within the housing;
- Figure 4 is an isometric view describing a method of producing the slidable sleeves;
- Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment, the slidable sleeve engaged over the locking lances;
- Figure 6 is the same embodiment as Figure 5 but showing the terminal in its fully inserted and locked position within an electrical connector housing.
- With reference to Figure 1, an
electrical terminal 2 is generally shown extending along alongitudinal axis 3, comprising a contacting section 4, alocking section 6, aretaining section 8, awire connecting section 9,(only partially shown), and aslidable sleeve 10. Still with respect to Figure 1,locking lances 12 attached to abase 14 of thelocking section 6 generally stamped and formed therefrom, are shown in their free standing position whereby thelocking lances 12 depart from attachedends 16 obliquely outwardly with respect to thelongitudinal axis 3 towards freerear ends 18. Thelocking lances 12 are formed in such a manner that when resiliently biased towards thebase 14 until they lie fully within acavity area 20 out of which they have been stamped thereby lying flush to thebase 14 of thelocking section 6, there is no plastic deformation. In other words, once released the locking lances will spring outwardly to their original free standing position. - The cross-sectional shape of a
base 22 of the contacting section 4 of anelectrical terminal 2 with respect to thelongitudinal axis 3, may be of a cylindrical or polygonal shape although a cylindrical shape has been chosen to illustrate the pin terminals of Figures 1,2,3,5 and 6. Likewise, the cross-sectional shape of thebase 14 with respect to thelongitudinal axis 3 may also be of a cylindrical or polygonal shape. Thebase 14 of thelocking section 6 is at a greater distance from thelongitudinal axis 3 than thebase 22 of the contacting section 4 as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 5. - A ring shaped
sleeve 10 having aninner surface 24 is fed over the contacting section 4 as shown in Figure 1 and then slid over thelocking section 6 to a position encompassing the locking lances as illustrated in Figure 2. Adimple 19 formed out of the locking lance prevents thesleeve 10 from falling off theterminal 2. - In the preferred embodiment, the
inner surface 24 of theslidable sleeve 10 substantially matches anouter surface 26 of thebase 14, theinner surface 24 however finding itself at a slightly larger inner diameter than the diameter of thesurface 26 in order to allow thesleeve 10 to slide over thebase 14. Thesleeve 10 is then slid over thelances 12, to bias them resiliently into thecavity area 20 out of which they were stamped so that they lie flush to thebase 14 as shown in Figure 2. In this position the freerear ends 18 of thelocking lances 12 no longer protrude outwards of thebase 14 and in accordance with the invention can therefore not get caught with other objects especially referring to other terminals and their harnesses. - In the preferred embodiment the
slidable sleeve 10 has aflange 28 attached to arear end 29 and extending perpendicularly outwards with respect to thelongitudinal axis 3 thereof. As theelectrical terminal 2 is inserted into aterminal receiving cavity 30 of anelectrical connector housing 32, afront face 34 of theflange 28 shall abut against arear face 36 of ashoulder 38 as shown in Figure 2. As theterminal 2 is inserted further into theterminal receiving cavity 30 therear end 18 of thelocking lance 12 will slide past afront end 27 of thesleeve 10 hence allowing the locking lance 12 to spring outwards and abut rearwardly on afront face 37 of theshoulder 38 hence retaining theterminal 2 within theterminal receiving cavity 30 as shown in Figure 3. Aprotrusion 40 attached to and extending outwardly from the rear end of thebase 14, having afront face 42 that abuts against arear face 33 of theflange 28 which abuts theshoulder 38, hence retains forward movement of theterminal 2 with respect to theelectrical connector housing 32. The latter happening only once therear end 18 of thelocking lance 12 has passed thefront face 37 of theshoulder 38 thereby assuring retention of theterminal 2 from both forwards and rearwards movement with respect to theelectrical connector housing 32 as shown in Figure 3. - Figures 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment of the invention corresponding to Figures 2 and 3 respectively whereby the flange 28' extends from the rear end of the sleeve 29' in an oblique manner, the rear face 36' of the shoulder 38' having likewise an oblique face to mate with the front face 34' of the flange 28' as illustrated by Figure 6.
- Figure 4 illustrates a low cost method for producing the
sleeve 10 by forming and stamping them out of a strip of sheet metal. - Many different shapes of the
flange 28 of theslidable sleeve 10 and varying lengths of the slidingsurface 24 of theslidable sleeve 10 can be imagined without departing from the spirit of this invention. - This invention is also applicable to female terminals and separate sleeves comprising the locking lances which are attached to terminals, examples of which are given in
patent DE 36 29 740 A1.
Claims (7)
- An electrical terminal (2) comprising a locking section (6), having a base (14), and at least one resilient locking lance (12) attached to the base (14), and a forward retaining protrusion (40), the lance (12) and protrusion (40) serving to retain the electrical terminal against a shoulder (38) within an associated cavity (30) of a housing (32), the terminal characterized in that
the locking section (6) comprises a sleeve (10) slidable over the locking lance (12) so as to resiliently bias the lance inwardly towards the base (14), the sleeve (10) being slidable off the locking lance (12) during entry of the terminal (2) into the cavity (30) of the housing (32) so as to allow the locking lance (12) to spring outwardly and lock the terminal (2) in the housing (32). - The electrical terminal of claim 1 characterized in that the sleeve (10) has a flange (28) extending outwardly with respect to a longitudinal axis (3), the flange abutting against a rear face (36) of the shoulder (38) during entry of the terminal (2) into the housing (32), the sleeve (10) hence retained by the flange (28) against the shoulder (38) from forward movement during forward movement of the terminal (2) into the locked position within the housing (32), whereby in the locked position the locking lance (12) abuts rearwardly against a front face (37) of the housing cavity shoulder (38).
- The terminal of claim 2 characterized in that when the terminal (2) is locked within the housing (32) a front face (42) of the protrusion (40) abuts a rear face (33) of the flange (28) and a front face (34) of the flange (28) abuts the rear face (36) of the housing cavity shoulder (38).
- The terminal of claim 2 or 3 characterized in that the flange (28) is attached to a rear end (29) of the sleeve (10) and projects outwardly perpendicularly therefrom.
- The terminal of claim 2 or 3 characterized in that the flange (28) is attached to a rear end (29) of the sleeve (10) and projects outwardly obliquely therefrom.
- The terminal of claim 1,2,3,4 or 5 characterized in that the sleeve (10) comprises an inner surface (24) lying substantially against an outer surface (26) of the base (14) but leaving a small space therebetween to allow sliding of the sleeve (10) over the base (14).
- The terminal of claim 1,2,3,4, 5 or 6 characterized in that the locking lance (12) has a dimple (19).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB939301541A GB9301541D0 (en) | 1993-01-27 | 1993-01-27 | An electrical terminal with means to avoid locking lance damage and entanglement |
GB9301541 | 1993-01-27 |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0608865A2 true EP0608865A2 (en) | 1994-08-03 |
EP0608865A3 EP0608865A3 (en) | 1995-12-20 |
EP0608865B1 EP0608865B1 (en) | 1998-06-10 |
Family
ID=10729363
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP94101136A Expired - Lifetime EP0608865B1 (en) | 1993-01-27 | 1994-01-26 | An electrical terminal with means to avoid locking lance damage and entanglement |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5389013A (en) |
EP (1) | EP0608865B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH06231823A (en) |
DE (1) | DE69410834T2 (en) |
GB (1) | GB9301541D0 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1996032756A1 (en) * | 1995-04-10 | 1996-10-17 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Contact spring |
GB2356743B (en) * | 1999-11-26 | 2004-06-30 | Connectors Ltd Ab | Electrical connector |
Families Citing this family (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5662488A (en) * | 1996-10-31 | 1997-09-02 | Alden; Peter H. | Quick connect coupling system for rapidly joining connectors and/or other elongated bodies |
JP3417782B2 (en) * | 1997-02-05 | 2003-06-16 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | Connector having shield member |
JP3402435B2 (en) * | 1997-05-09 | 2003-05-06 | 住友電装株式会社 | Printed circuit board connector |
US5980311A (en) * | 1997-12-09 | 1999-11-09 | Eaton Corporation | Fastenerless double ended clip-on meter jaw |
US6168478B1 (en) * | 1998-08-28 | 2001-01-02 | Lucent Technologies, Inc. | Snap type retention mechanism for connector terminals |
KR20020001102A (en) * | 2000-06-26 | 2002-01-09 | 이형도 | Power connector fixing structure for adaptor |
US6595792B1 (en) * | 2000-10-30 | 2003-07-22 | Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. | Tamper resistant plug for changing a function of an electronic device |
KR100754775B1 (en) * | 2001-03-10 | 2007-09-03 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Connector, lamp unit for backlight assembly and liquid crystal display device having the same |
DE10237666B4 (en) * | 2002-08-16 | 2004-08-05 | ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc., Wilmington | connector element |
DE10257759A1 (en) * | 2002-12-10 | 2004-06-24 | Erni Elektroapparate Gmbh | Electrical connector with a housing and a high current contact |
US7942707B2 (en) | 2009-04-28 | 2011-05-17 | Tyco Electronics Corporation | Electrical contact with locking barb |
TWM427707U (en) * | 2011-06-21 | 2012-04-21 | Ks Terminals Inc | Electrical connector terminal and electrical connector terminal with waterproof connector |
JP6101435B2 (en) * | 2012-05-10 | 2017-03-22 | 矢崎総業株式会社 | connector |
JP6007964B2 (en) * | 2014-12-12 | 2016-10-19 | 第一精工株式会社 | Electrical connector |
JP6341225B2 (en) * | 2016-04-27 | 2018-06-13 | 第一精工株式会社 | Terminals and connectors |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3609636A (en) * | 1969-01-28 | 1971-09-28 | Bunker Ramo | Electrical connectors |
EP0056209A1 (en) * | 1981-01-12 | 1982-07-21 | Droguet International | Electrical connector and its application to sockets for lampholders |
EP0352088A1 (en) * | 1988-07-21 | 1990-01-24 | The Whitaker Corporation | Electrical connector |
Family Cites Families (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3808590A (en) * | 1973-02-27 | 1974-04-30 | Bendix Corp | Contact retention and removal assembly for a multi-pin electrical |
GB8522836D0 (en) * | 1985-09-16 | 1985-10-23 | Amp Gmbh | Pin & socket electrical connector |
-
1993
- 1993-01-27 GB GB939301541A patent/GB9301541D0/en active Pending
-
1994
- 1994-01-10 US US08/179,290 patent/US5389013A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-01-26 DE DE69410834T patent/DE69410834T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1994-01-26 EP EP94101136A patent/EP0608865B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-01-27 JP JP6024749A patent/JPH06231823A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3609636A (en) * | 1969-01-28 | 1971-09-28 | Bunker Ramo | Electrical connectors |
EP0056209A1 (en) * | 1981-01-12 | 1982-07-21 | Droguet International | Electrical connector and its application to sockets for lampholders |
EP0352088A1 (en) * | 1988-07-21 | 1990-01-24 | The Whitaker Corporation | Electrical connector |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1996032756A1 (en) * | 1995-04-10 | 1996-10-17 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Contact spring |
GB2356743B (en) * | 1999-11-26 | 2004-06-30 | Connectors Ltd Ab | Electrical connector |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0608865B1 (en) | 1998-06-10 |
EP0608865A3 (en) | 1995-12-20 |
DE69410834D1 (en) | 1998-07-16 |
JPH06231823A (en) | 1994-08-19 |
GB9301541D0 (en) | 1993-03-17 |
US5389013A (en) | 1995-02-14 |
DE69410834T2 (en) | 1998-10-22 |
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